Guest Information for the May 15th Ceremony

New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Commencement Exercises for doctoral and undergraduate and candidates will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 8:40 a.m. at Newark’s Prudential Center. Candidates receiving a master’s degree will not participate in this ceremony. Please make sure you read the General Information section to ensure you have all the information you will need.

Schedule

7:30 a.m. - Guests are permitted to enter Prudential Center, and will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis.

8:40 a.m. - Processional begins.

9:00 a.m. - Ceremony begins - If guests need to leave prior to the end of the ceremony, we ask that they be considerate of the remaining guests. Candidates are not permitted to leave before the end of the ceremony unless they have requested permission prior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a ticket or an invitation?

No, tickets and invitations are not being distributed as you will not need one to enter the Prudential Center. We do ask that graduates limit guests to 10. Please note: sections 10 and 17 are reserved for University guests and are not a part of general admission. All seating for guests of candidates is general admission and available on a first-come basis, guests are not permitted to reserve or block off seating. If you attempt to do so, Prudential security will enforce the policy. Please refer to the seating chart below; it will also be made available to you on Commencement day along with the Commencement program booklet to help you identify the sections in which graduates are seated.

(Click for a larger view)

Where is commencement held and how do I get there?

The ceremony takes place at the Prudential Center, 165 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Directions for driving or taking public transportation to the Prudential Center can be found here. Please be mindful that you need to arrive by 7:30 a.m. and allow sufficient time to go through the security checkpoint and for the heavy traffic which can be expected at that time. Candidates begin processing at 8:40 a.m.

Where do I park?

Parking is available for a charge at the commercial lots near Prudential Center, as indicated here. Costs vary, as the lots are privately owned. Any information about discounted rates will be posted on this site, if and when it becomes available.

Where do I go after parking?

For your convenience, guests may enter through either the Prudential Center's Ford Tower or Investors Bank Tower. If you would prefer to sit on the same side as your host graduate, we recommend that you enter via the same tower they are required to enter. Below is an explanation to assist with your planning. The doors will open at 7:30 am. Only graduates and participants in the ceremony will be permitted to enter the lower level staging area. All guests must take the escalator or elevator to the guest area where they will receive their Commencement program booklet. Please remind your candidate that they are not permitted to bring personal items with them and they should leave them with you.

Candidates receiving a doctoral degree enter through the VIP entrance on Lafayette Street. They will be seated on the left-hand side as you face the stage (house left / stage right) we recommend their guests use the Ford Tower entrance on the corner of Mulberry and Lafayette Streets (the tower on the left as viewed from Mulberry Street). Guests cannot enter via the VIP entrance.

Candidates receiving a bachelor's degree from Newark College of Engineering (NCE) enter through the Ford Tower entrance on the corner of Mulberry and Lafayette Streets (the tower on the left as viewed from Mulberry Street). We recommend their guests also use this entrance.

The remaining candidates (all bachelor candidates from College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts, Martin Tuchman School of Management, and Ying Wu College of Computing) enter through the Investors Bank Tower entrance on the corner of Mulberry and Edison Streets (the tower on the right as viewed from Mulberry Street). We recommend their guests also use this entrance.

May I take graduation photos or record the ceremony?

You may take photographs and/or record the graduation ceremony from your seat. Professional photographers will also be taking photographs and will reach out to the candidates after the ceremony. No one is permitted to take pictures from the aisles. If you attempt to do so you will be escorted to your seat by Prudential staff.

Will commencement be simulcast?

For guests unable to attend, the ceremony will be simulcast live on the web. To view the ceremony, please visit www.njit.edu.

Where can I purchase Commencement announcements?

If you wish to purchase Commencement announcements to send to family and friends, you can place your order at the NJIT Bookstore.

Can I purchase a copy of the yearbook?

Representatives of the Nucleus yearbook staff will be at Commencement selling yearbooks. They will be located at the top of the escalator between both entrances. Please note: You will not receive your yearbook on the day of Commencement because Commencement is included in the yearbook. If you wish to order a yearbook online you can do so here.

Where do I meet my graduate after the ceremony?

It is recommended that candidates and their guests designate a meeting area prior to entering the Prudential Center in order to eliminate confusion. No one is permitted back into the Prudential Center once they have exited. Please select a meeting location outside of the venue.

How do I obtain a visa to attend the ceremony?

NJIT does not issue letters for guests that need a visa. For your convenience, a template is available for download. If you have further questions, please contact the Office of Global Initiatives by phone: + 1 (973) 596-2451, or by email: global@njit.edu.